Importing a dog from the UK

[gozomark]

wont say no to that

I've updated the original post for new email address

[Mr Lally]

Some new changes came into effect as of 29/12/14 with regard to the pet passport scheme. Nothing major, but it has imposed a minimum age requirement (12 weeks) and a couple of other little things:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... idance.pdf

From experience, as we're moving in August when would be the best time to organise the pet passport for our Hank? I had thought we had to allow 6 months from the rabies vaccine, but I see that changed and now you only need to allow 21 days.

[gozomark]

yes, the rabies requirement is now 21-365 days from the injection

there is also a new type of passport - the old ones are still valid if issued prior to 29/12/14, but any new issued ones must be the new style

I would get passport done next time see the vet, its a quick procedure

[Mr Lally]

Thanks Mark

[1man2dogs]

My pleasure Mark,be good to get to know some people down there when I arrive and over a beer is always a good way to start

I've had my pre-notification forms all approved now but noticed in Alexess post that tracking sheets were mentioned? Can anyone shed any light on them for me.

Thanks for all the help,all the knowledge on here has made this whole process so much easier it's greatly appreciated!

See you in just under 7 weeks Gozo!!

[gozomark]

http://vafd.gov.mt/pet-travel-scheme

"We will book an officer following the information provided by the tracking sheet (page 2 of the application form) that will wait for you at the travellers’ point of entry and proceed for the inspection."

[svale]

Quick question. Firstly the links to the relevant government site are incorrect. Could someone update. There is also a reference to a second form that needs to be completed apart from pre registration. Could someone throw some light on yhat

Thanks

[gozomark]

Sadly the government regularly revamps its websites, and fails to keep links active! ..https://agriculture.gov.mt/en/vrd/Pages ... malta.aspx

[svale]

Could anyone throw some light about the second form required (not the one informing arrival)

[gozomark]

the link I posted is the government page - all that is required is mentioned there - things have changed in last few years

[svale]

OK, my recent experience with Air Malta has been good and bad. First of all the website lies. It infers that you can take your pet from the UK as excess baggage (at a cost of £150). I must admit that I disbelieved this and phoned AIR Malta customer service to check. After assurances that this was OK and you could choose any flight, I booked. The problem is that you have to book your own flight before you can book any ticket as excess baggage. Anyway, luckily I did book myself as an open ticket. 3 days later (and quite a few telephone calls) Air Malta got in touch to say that no space was available anywhere until January.

After trying quite a few pet transport companies, every company gave me different information and prices. The cheapest was £750 (BTW my dog is a medium size cocker spaniel) and nearly every company said that a Monday am flight from Gatwick was almost the only option. That said, I got some really poor information. Typically that informing the Malta government was unnecessary. When I questioned one company who wanted to offer me a night flight from Heathrow, they insisted that the veterinary check was precleared (I asked whether the vet would be available at 1:00 am).

Anyway, back to Air Malta. It took me a call to Air Malta in Malta to get the correct phone no for Air Malta cargo UK. When I finally got in touch with a nice lady called Stefania Billikova, she couldn't have been more helpful and sorted me out.

First of all, Air Malta encourages you to travel on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday because there is less cargo on these days. Stef booked Dusty on my preferred flight of Thursday morning from Heathrow. She helped me with all the forms and gave them personally to the cargo people. By this time (together with my permanent move to Malta), I had rampant paranoia. She couldn't have been more helpful and really indulged me.

At the end of the day, the most painful part was the £550 cargo fee. You have to book your pet into cargo 4 hours beforehand but this went smoothly as did the pickup from Air Malta cargo in Malta (not that a fee about €41 is payable cash - no cards accepted at the Malta end)

[Kay]

Thanks for sharing your story. Let's hope others benefit from your experience. Have fun in your new life!